Former Labor minister Chris Evans has been appointed as Australia's first anti-slavery commissioner, a role established under the Modern Slavery Amendment Act 2024, which aims to combat exploitative practices including human trafficking and forced labor. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced Evans' appointment, emphasizing the need for stronger efforts to prevent modern slavery, which currently affects an estimated 41,000 individuals in Australia, including 16,400 in New South Wales alone. The commissioner will oversee initiatives to support victims, raise community awareness, and assist businesses in addressing risks within their supply chains, backed by an $8 million budget over four years. Evans, who previously led the Global Freedom Network, will begin his five-year term in December, following a statutory review that recommended enhancements to the existing Modern Slavery Act. The review highlighted the need for improved mandatory reporting from large businesses and identified significant risks faced by temporary migrant workers in various sectors. An inquiry into these risks is currently underway in New South Wales, focusing on the exploitation of temporary migrant workers in agriculture and related industries.